HOME GUARD - COMPULSORY ENTROIMENT. Memo. by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.

-2- 5. If, therefore, the threat of invasion came at the time of one of the vital seasonal operations of agriculture, there would be a serious risk that a substantial proportion of the food crops over a large part of the country would be not merely delayed, but lost. I would accordingly urge that steps should be taken to ensure that farmers and farm workers are not enrolled for what may well turn out to be protracted service for a large proportion of them over a large part of the country. Either the Home Guard deficiencies should be made up, in the main, otherwise than from among farmers and farm workers, or some other means of protection (such as by the introduction of further operational troops into the "deficit" areas instead) should be adopted in the national interest.